Dictionary

fish-horn en · NOUN

Etymology

From fish + horn.

Meanings

1. (historical) A horn that produces a loud and penetrating sound, used by a fishmonger to announce that the catch is in.
   • He pointed toward the column, whose advance Juggie was enthusiastically stimulating by loud and prolonged blasts on the fish-horn. 1886, Edward A. Rand, The Knights of the White Shield:
   • Our "music" consisted of a bass-drum, which was tortured by the clown; a fish-horn beautifully played upon by Sam Palmer; a dinner-bell whose din was extracted by Jack Adams. 1884, George Thompson, My Life: or the Adventures of Geo. Thompson:
   • The lad was pounced upon and raised up on his friends' shoulders, and away went the boat club boys around the town, Blumpo in advance of them blowing a big fish-horn. 1897, Ralph Bonehill, The Young Oarsmen of Lakeview:

Forms